October 21, 2008

Bryan Little tipped-in a Mathieu slapshot from the blueline with 35 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, before the Thrasher eventually lost in overtime. Mathieu had 5 shots in 22:09 minutes of ice time; he was also a +1.

Game summary: White (Schneider, Hainsey), 19:24 of 3rd.

Fantasy report

I like to take a look at the reviews and updates put out for those folks who have fantasy league because those reports tend to be bluntly honest, and often on the money. Newspapers have to tread lightly as to not burn potential interview bridges, and everyday bloggers have their own biases (self included). Fantasy league owners have biases, too, but they look at stats like no one else. Thus, here is a bluntly honest fantasy review for Mathieu thus far:

"As expected, Mathieu Schneider, who is usually one of the top plus/minus players in the NHL, is suffering early in his Atlanta career. He has just one point in four games and a minus-4 rating." (from Michael Hurcomb at CBS Sports.com Fantasy News)

"The Thrashers desperately need Mathieu Schneider to get rolling. He has just one assist and was minus-4 through five games." (from Sportsnet.ca's Mike Brophy)

Well, yeah. He's not done so well so far. But it is early in the season, and he's barely adjusted to the team yet. No need to push the panic button... unless you have him in your fantasy league. =)

Bogosian gives props

Rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian has found a mentor in Mathieu. Partly brought to Atlanta to help the development of the 18-year old, Mathieu has been helping him out on and off the ice, tutoring him on the different players in the league, and even taking him to dinner. Says Bogosian:

"Since Day One he has been awesome with me," said Bogosian, who also credits Ron Hainsey for his early development. "It's easy to come into the locker room and sit next to a guy like that. It makes you feel comfortable. He told me I looked good (Thursday) night. He said as the games go on you will feel more comfortable and realize what you can and can't do. It's an honor to be playing with him." (from NHL.com)

On Gretzky, goals, and teeth

In commemoration of his 1,200 regular season game, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a summary of some of Mathieu key moments leading up to this milestone. The whole piece is pretty interesting, but the section on perspective is really, well, touching:

" 'It seems like it’s really flown by,' Schneider said. 'It’s my 20th season, and it certainly doesn’t feel that way.

'The only time I realize it is when I look around and so many guys I played with aren’t playing anymore. I think there’s only one [other] guy left from the Stanley Cup team in 1993 [Patrice Brisebois].

That makes me feel pretty good that I’ve been able to keep playing as long as I have. I’m hoping for another 400 or 500 more.

The game’s just so much fun. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become more and more fun.' ”

For those of you counting at home, apparently half of his teeth are his own natural ones. And to add, not only was Wayne Gretzky the most famous of his teammates, Mathieu actually got the second assist on the last point the legend ever record in the NHL. Also, for what it's worth, I remember his "prettiest goal" (which came against my Sharks), and I was there for his first hat trick. Either I'm lucky enough to catch him on good days, or I bring him luck. Hmmm....

October 18, 2008

Game summary: (roughing), 04:02 of 2nd

October 16, 2008

Nothing much to report in the 0-1 loss to New Jersey. Mathieu played 26:17, by far the most ice time of anyone on either team. Game summary: (Delaying Game-Puck over glass), 1:52 of 1st.

New article

CBSSports.com had a nice article about Mathieu's arrival in Atlanta. If he had to move again, he's happy to move to Atlanta:

"I've never really spent much time there, but I've really grown to like it and my brother lives there. We're all pretty excited about having our families close together."

See the whole article, Well-traveled Schneider has a Happy Landing in Atlanta, by Wes Goldstein, at http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/11033542

October 14, 2008; career game #1,200

Tonight marked Mathieu's 1,200 career NHL regular season game, making him the 74th player in NHL player to reach that mark. He is currently third among defenseman in games played, coming in just behind Niklas Lidstrom (1,255) and a bit further behind Chris Chelios (1,616).

In the game he also got his first point as a Thrasher, but the only Mathieu sightings I had in the highlights were two give-aways leading to two goals against. Though as Mathieu put it, one was an awkward situation:

"Normally, I put that back into Kari, but Kari lost his stick. [Gaborik] made a nice play. I’d normally put it right back in a goalie’s pads, but without his stick that becomes pretty risky, too. Obviously, you don’t want to handle the puck in front of your net, but I didn’t have a lot of choice there." (from Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Game summary: Little (White, Schneider), 15:20 of 3rd; (high-sticking), 19:26 of 1st; (holding), 16:41 of 2nd.

Alexander Ovechkin

In town to play the Washington Capitals last weekend, Mathieu had a few thoughts about Alex Ovechkin. He thinks the star could have a long and successful career by being a bit more selective with his big hits:

"It's a grind. When you look at players who have played their careers like (Ovechkin), I look at guys like Wendell Clark, a great goal-scorer who was also a big, physical presence. It took a toll on his body. He's a target out there and a lot of guys go after him. It's only natural for him to want to go back at guys. He's going to keep learning as he goes, but it's better revenge to put the puck in the net than run somebody over." (from The Sporting News)

First game photos

Well, technically, it looks like pre-game skate photos, but jamd.com has some images of Mathieu on the ice in his new uniform (and an A on his jersey). I don't know if direct links to jamd work, so here's an attempt:
http://www.jamd.com/image/in-search/mathieu+schneider/#1g83248625

If that doesn't work, try going to the search results for "Mathieu Schneider" (http://www.jamd.com/search/?q=mathieu+schneider); images are in date order, newest to oldest.

October 11, 2008

The Thrashers pulled out a point with tonight's 3-2 lose in overtime, giving them 3 out of a possible 4 points in the first 2 games. Mathieu was on the ice for 25:20. Game summary: (boarding), 8:19 of 2nd.

October 10, 2008 (Opening night)

In his first game with the Thrashers (a 7-4 win over Washington), Mathieu was pointless while picking up one penalty, and 22:18 total minutes of ice-time. Game summary: (tripping), 15:45 of 1st

Alternate captain

Mathieu has been given one of Atlanta's 5 rotating alternate captain spots. The team has not designated a captain, and have instead decided to keep the rotating alternates. Mathieu was chosen because of his proven leadership on and off the ice throughout his career. He was previous an alternate captain with both the New York Islanders and the LA Kings.

SI story

Darren Eliot had a nice story about Mathieu in the online version of Sports Illustrated. In the story, Eliot talks about how hockey is flowing in the blood of the Schneider "boys," from himself, to his Dad, Sam, to his brother, J.A., and now to his youngest sons Matty and Micah.

Side note: Hey, what about the girls! =)

That infamous locker room incident

Anyone who has followed Mathieu for awhile has heard about his locker room dust-up with Patrick Roy when they were both with the Canadiens. Various stories have run the length of the Internet, ranging from mundane personality conflicts to other more salacious gossip. What is true? Only a few people really know. For what it's worth, I'll take storied Montreal Gazette reporter Red Fisher's word on the matter:

It started, Schneider said, when Roy had this message for the players: "Guys, we're down two goals, but we can still win this game. There's only one guy in this room who isn't doing his job." Then Roy looked directly at Schneider. "Shut the (expletive deleted) up," Schneider told Roy. "Just stop the puck!"

At that point, Roy flung the contents of a plastic cup at him. Schneider then tossed a punch at his goaltender, but teammates leaped in to separate the two as general manager Serge Savard and head coach Jacques Demers rushed into the room.

See Fisher's entire story, including how Mathieu called him at 1am to tell him he was quitting the team, at canada.com

New team, same smiles

Holly from Thrashers Prospect Annex had the scoop on Mathieu's first on-ice practice with the Thrashers last week. Included in her fantastic post are exclusive quotes from his new teammates, as well as great photos of Mathieu in his new colors.

Check out the full post for more images, including one familiar to images of Mathieu throughout his career. Change uniforms, changes teams, it doesn't matter... the ubiquitous Mathieu smile remains the same

October 4, 2008

In his first game with his new team (a 4-1 lose to St. Louis), Mathieu played 20:39 minutes (second most of all Thrashers), registered an assist on a power play, had two shots, and was a -2.

Preseason game summary: Sterling (Schneider, White), 12:50 of 3rd (PP).

Number 18

Mathieu will wear #18 for the Thrashers. For those of you with good memories, #18 was the number he wore when he broke into the league with Montreal. That may have been part of the reason he chose it, but he attributes the choice to his son, Micah:

"My son Micah picked that number. It was actually the first number I had when I came in the league. I was number 18 in Montreal for one season until Denis Savard came to our team and I gave him 18. It's also the Chai, or 'good luck' in Hebrew as well. But I was given number 18 in Montreal. I didn't pick it but it was a good number for me. I gave my kids four choices and Micah was the one that really liked 18, so he won out."

To see more from his first Q&A since the trade to Atlanta, see the atlantathrashers.com.

In other news, Mathieu is expected make his Thrashers debut Saturday in the team's last preseason game.

And he's already assuming mentor role

It hasn't been a secret that Mathieu coming to Atlanta was as much about mentoring as it was about playing. Of course, Mathieu still has a lot to offer on the ice, but the Thrashers are hoping that he has some skills when it comes to helping incoming rookie Zach Bogosian. In the locker room, the team hs placed the two defensemen's lockers next to each other; on the ice, the two look like they may be paired (but it is early, and lines will shift throughout the season).

Mathieu has already helped, advising the young defenseman on how to approach playing his former Red Wings in the last preseason game, said Bogosian:

"His first day, he came up to me and talked to me right away. Obviously, he made me feel really comfortable. He’s a great leader. It’s good to have a guy like that around to talk." (from Atlanta Journal-Constitution)